ISLAND LIFE SHORTS
Feeling the flow with Leilow
Advertiser Staff and News Services
It's filled with random toys and boom boxes, and next to the portable record player and crate of records, you'll find rows of intricately designed hoodies, the latest in fitted hats, and of course, graphic printed T-shirts. Leilow is a shop — now in a new location — and a label, mixing hip-hop, skateboarding, turntablism and street art with vintage flair and a mellow island vibe, thanks to the skills of owner Jules Gayton, a DJ, native of England and original member of the Stussy NYC Tribe.
A case in Leilow stores Gayton's prize possessions — vintage sunglasses by designers like Valentino, Christian Dior and Gucci, collected over time. "When my friends in New York would ask me what I was doing in Hawai'i, I said I was 'laying low' — that's how Leilow came about," he said. "Leilow is for life and about spreading the love." Leilow, 1532 Makaloa St. (across from Ala Moana Center, just off Ke'eaumoku); 943-9111, www.leilow.com.
— Lacy Matsumoto.
PROOF OF AN ARTIST
Green and blue dinosaurs are stomping over the Golden Gate Bridge, playing with cars, and taking over the walls of the Exclusive Boutique at the Artist Proof show. Pancho Abalos, who lives in Leeward O'ahu and is an events coordinator by day, is an artist by night. Using acrylic, pens and pencil to express himself, he is inspired by his two children (the green dinosaur is his daughter and the blue his son).
"I appreciate and am grateful for the people I've met at shows, and the support and love that I get from everyone," says Abalos. See his art at Exclusive until April 22, and get Pancho Abalos tees for $25. Exclusive Boutique, 1131 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 104; 593-9699.
— L.M..
PARTY HARVEY
He stands more than 6 feet tall, has a British accent that gives away his international background, and is one of the world's most respected DJs. They call him DJ Harvey, and the co-owner at gallery/dance mecca thirtyninehotel is known for his eclectic selections of house and electronic music, as well as his happy-go-lucky demeanor and fancy footwork. Harvey and partner Gelareh Khoie have brought DJs from Tokyo, England, Chicago and New York to the multimedia space to fulfill their eclectic audiolust, filling the space with disco, house, and everything dance.
"Harvey has always toned it down here in Hawai'i, but we're ready to take it to the next level," says Khoie. On Saturday, experience "Night Fever," when Harvey returns to the Islands from his Los Angeles residency. He'll play a new genre of music for thirtyninehotel: Think disco meets the new era of electronica, with a historic groove and technical flair. "Night Fever" goes down at 10 p.m. at thirtyninehotel, 39 Hotel St.; $10; 599-2552, www.thirtyninehotel.com.
— L.M.
FANCY MONEY
Wallets tend to get flashed daily as we fish for cash, credit and i.d. Why not show off those skins? Prototype takes wallets seriously, with an array of hand-painted designs by Portland, Ore.-based company db Clay. Each design is personalized by various artists.
If $85 for one of these exclusives is out of your price range, then opt for the "Ductbill" — a do-it-yourself project with step-by-step instructions on how to create and decorate a wallet out of duct tape. Color in some designs with a Sharpie, and you have your own work of wallet art. Prototype, Pearlridge Uptown; 484 8973, www.inspirecreativity.com.
— L.M.
SALES & BARGAINS
— Pualana Lemelle.